Reviews
Way Too Many Latkes: A Hanukkah in Chelm
“Faigel makes the most delicious latkes in her village—but only in tiny batches. Those lucky enough to taste one of them ‘dream about it for the rest of the year.’ Then Faigel forgets her famous recipe, and because she lives in Chelm, the legendary village of fools, the View →
Belinda the Unbeatable
Nordling, Lee Belinda the Unbeatable 32 pp. Lerner/Graphic Universe 2017. LE ISBN 978-1-5124-1331-1 PE ISBN 978-1-5124-5413-0 Ebook ISBN 978-1-5124-4880-1 (3) 1-3 Illustrated by Scott Roberts.… View →
The Best Sukkot Pumpkin Ever
“Micah visits a pumpkin patch with his family on a mission to find ‘the best pumpkin ever’ for Sukkot. Upon arrival, he learns from the farmer the value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and that the pumpkins he finds can be donated to feed people in need at a soup… View →
The Missing Letters: A Dreidel Story
“Set in the wood carver’s shop as the festival approaches, all the separate pieces of the dreidel are ready to be assembled. They come to life. Letters nun, hey and shin are jealous of gimel, popular with players because of its promised gains. They decide to hide the gimels so they View →
Way Too Many Latkes: A Hanukkah in Chelm
“In the town of Chelm, where foolish ideas often turn out for the best, Faigel can’t find her latke recipe. She sends her husband, Shmuel, to ask the rabbi for advice. Too many potatoes? No problem. Use them all! Too many eggs? Ditto. Too many onions? Ditto. At the end of this… View →
Koala Challah
“Lila wants to help her family get ready for Shabbat. She tries making eucalyptus oil candles and eucalyptus wine like her sisters. She tries making decorations for the Shabbat table. Unfortunately, everything she tries makes a huge mess that her parents have to clean up in a hurry View →
The Cholent Brigade
“Mr. Monty Nudelman is a mensch (good person). On Friday morning following a big storm, he happily shovels snow from the sidewalks, alleys and front porches of his neighbors so they can prepare for Shabbat. When he does not show up for Shabbat services on Saturday morning, View →
Rosie Saves the World
“Caring for the world and people in need around the globe is an essential Judaic value, and so is Areyvut (Jews being responsible for one another). Rosie learns in Hebrew class about Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world by doing good deeds, and sets off to do just… View →
Engineer Arielle and the Israel Independence Day Surprise
“The roof of a train and the roof of the sky deliver a picture book about Israel’s Independence Day. Engineer Arielle, energetic, 21st century, modern, urban train engineer is the great, great granddaughter of Engineer Ari renowned for his adventures driving the first ever train in View →
Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva
“Author Jules, a many-time Sydney Taylor Honoree, presents a tale that is at once universally accessible and yet so vital to young Jewish readers.”—Association of Jewish Libraries View →
Auma's Long Run
“[Odhiambo] give[s] life to the authentic and realistic character of Auma—a young woman to believe in—and to put a human face on the epidemic that still affects Kenya.”—Shelf Awareness View →
Chicken in the Kitchen
“The big, bold, and sometimes almost three-dimensional illustrations maintain a folk-art feel while still feeling modern. . . . An unusual, but quite gregarious, offering.”—Booklist View →
“Isdahl’s alliterative narrative floats like a poem, sometimes rhyming, sometimes not, and is perfectly complemented by Van Doorn’s ethereal illustrations. . . . This beautifully rendered story is about the past and the future, change and constancy, and family love and… View →
Black Holes: The Weird Science of the Most Mysterious Objects in the Universe
“Latta offers a cogent explanation of complicated physics concepts, but it’s her enthusiasm for the subject matter that makes this really shine. . . . Aspiring scientists will be captivated and perhaps inspired to pursue careers in the field.”—Booklist View →
Locked Up for Freedom: Civil Rights Protesters at the Leesburg Stockade
“It will be impossible for readers not to feel a sense of relatability with the girls in the photographs, who were so much younger than the more famous heroes of the civil rights era, but no less resolute or brave.”—Booklist View →
Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
“Newman clearly describes the conditions that led to each species becoming endangered and encourages readers to think carefully about their own actions in light of threats to wildlife.”—Booklist View →
May's Wild Walk: Book 1
“Give this to readers who want a tale with a heart.”—Booklist View →
On the Free
“Thrilling, suspenseful, and fast-paced, this is an on-the-edge-of-your-seat read.”—Booklist View →
Artificial Intelligence: Building Smarter Machines
“An excellent addition to collections eager to encourage STEM conversations.”—School Library Journal View →
A Dangerous Magic
“An entertaining choice for speculative fiction mystery lovers.”—School Library Journal View →
Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
“A great book for research or for students interested in conservation.”—School Library Journal View →
Locked Up for Freedom: Civil Rights Protesters at the Leesburg Stockade
“A story that needs to be told. The solid research and concise narrative make it a fine addition to most student-centered collections.”—School Library Journal View →
I, Claudia
“What do imperial Rome and a contemporary L.A. prep school have in common? More than you might think. Laced with tumult and palace intrigue, I, Claudia pulls back the purple curtain for an inside look at the school’s patrician class. With psychological thrills,… View →
“[A] bittersweet story . . .”—Publishers Weekly View →